A-G warns against pyramid scheme

“Seasons of Sharing” and “Women Empowering Women” are two names being used by what the Iowa Attorney General’s office says is the state’s latest pyramid scheme. A-G spokesman Bob Brammer says this scam is focused in central Iowa, in communities including Boone, Ankeny and Des Moines.Brammer says this scheme involved people “giving” money to other people in large sums, with very poor odds of getting a return from up the pyramid.Some groups claim this type of “pyramid” is legal in Iowa. Brammer says that’s simply not true. He says while Iowa doesn’t have an “anti-pyramid” statute, it does have the Consumer Fraud Act which prohibits this type of activity.Two people from Des Moines and two from Boone are being subpoenaed who allegedly were promoting the “gifting” program. Their names are not being released.